Fretted stringed musical instrument



Nov. 29, 1932. A. LARSON FRETTED STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 29, LARSON FRETTED STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 may LUZ/ 97L653 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 PATENT oFnca AUGUST LARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FBETTED STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed September 8, 1930. Serial No. 480,334.

My invention relates to fretted stringed musical instruments and is particularly adapted to guitars. The main object is to provide means for adjusting the strings and reinforce the parts where the strain is the greatest.

In securing the adjustment of the strings to the body of the instrument, as will here- I after be seen, I provide means for adj ustably altering the relation of the neck to the body of the instrument, and I also provide meansv for raising and lowering a portion of the bridge which support the strings.

In connection with the bridge adjustment the means I provide will permit the uniform raising of the strings with reference to the body of the instrument, or as may be de sired, the base or the higher pitched strings may be independentl raised or lowered with respect to the body 0 the instrument. \Vhile the neck or the bridge string adjustments may be employed independently, they may, nevertheless, be used to greater advantage together for securing an instrument in accordance with the players wishes and requirements.

I have secured the foregoing objects and results by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front View of a guitar provided with the improved bridge adjusting feature.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the back removed to illustrate the mounting of the bridge and neck.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the body and bridge showing a portion of the structure permitting the securing of the strings without the use ofbridge pins.

Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal section of a guitar embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail section on line 5-+5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail section transverse of the bridge and its mounting.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental section at right angles to the view in Fig. 6 On line thereof.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspectives of different forms of adjusting pieces for use in n connection with the bridge. Fig. 11 is a fragmental detail elevation of the end block at the bridge end of the body showing the relation of the rods thereto.

Fig. 12 is a fra mental detail elevation showing the end bIock at the neck end of the body with means for preventing the rotation of the straining rod.

Fig. 13 is a section on line 1313 of Fig. 4 showing means for holding the neck in ad justed alignment.

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

ig. 15 is a section on line 15-15 of Fi 4 showing means of adjusting the top Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 17 shows a modified manner of securing the neck to the body of the instrument.

The instrument with which I have shown my invention embodied comprises a guitar having the usual form of body 20, fret board 23 and bridge 24, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1. In order to stand the strain of the strings, the body portion is provided with the end blocks 28 and the front of the body'portion has the cross and diagonal bracing, shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The end block 28, at the end of the body with which the neck connects, is provided with a dovetail mortise with which a tenon on the end of the neck connects, as clearly shown in Fig.2.

Above the tenon and to the base of the neck is secured a metal strap 3%, as shown in Fig. 5. This strap is secured'to the neck by the screw 35, as shown in Fig. 4, and to the body of the instrument by screws 36, as shown in Fig. 5. The strap 34?) flexes slightly between its points of attachment so as to permit of the adjustment now to be described.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 4, 11, 12 and 15, perforated metal plates 27 are secured to the inner faces of blocks 28, and in the perforations of these plates are seated the ends of a thrust receiving member comprising two lengths of rods 25 having a screw connection, shown in Fig. 15. After the length of this thrust receiving member has been ad- 'usted by screwing one member into or out of the other, the rods are locked in adjusted position by the lock nut 26. Passing diagothe straining rod, the neck may be inclined with respect to the body so as to bring the strings nearer to or further from the body.

In order to prevent the fret board 23 0f the neck 22, which extends down over the body of the instrument, from getting out of alignment I screwdown through the end of the fret board a headedscrew 40 into a bracket 37 fixed to a cross brace by screws 39, as most clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

C In order to provide a firm foundation for v the mounting of the bridge I secure between the diagonal braces at thebase of'the body, the cross metal pieces 45 and 46 by means of the screws 49, as most clearly shown in Fig.

2. These cross braces 45 and 46 are L-sectioned strips of metal and between them are mounted laminations of wood 44, as isrnost clearly shown in Fig. 6. Through the lemmations of wood pass the bolts 51 which secure and anchor the bridge to the body of the instrument. we

The bridge 24 is substantially rectangular and adjacent the'edge toward the neck end of the instrument is provided a slot for de- 'tachably and adjustably receiving either of the forms of strips 24411.,246 or 240 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. Covering the opposite edge of the bridge and extending forwardly over the location of the strip 24a is a metal plate 40 '50 secured in place by the bolts 51 which an- The forward portion of I chor the bridge. the plate is capable of being sprung away from the bridge and adjacent its forward edge over the location of the strip 24a is provided with a bead, the upper edge of which constitutes a ridge for the support of the strings and the lower face of which receives the upper edge of the strip 24a.

It will now be seen that by suitably selecting a strip 24a in accordance with its form and width the strings may be uniformly elevated or depressed with respect to the body of the instrument or the base or the higher pitched strings may be elevated or 55 depressed. The metal plate 50 is perforated at spaced intervals, as shown in Fig. 1, and the bridge below the perforations is bored or recessed for the receipt of bridge pins for holding the strings 52, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. However, to do away with the use of bridgepins, if desired,I drive holes 52athrough the back flange of the plate 50 and the bridge 24, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, which connect with the hottomsof the recesses for the bridge pins sov that instead of using the bridge pins the strings, after insertion into the bridge pin recesses, maybe carried through the holes 52a and knotted or otherwise secured at the rear of the bridge, as shown in Fig. 6. For covering the protruding ends of the strings, when this mode of string attachment is employed, I provide a felt lined cover plate 53 .detachably secured in position by screws 54,

' as most clearly shown in Fig. 1 taken in connection with Figs. 4 and 6.

Having described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument hav ing a body and a neck, means for adjusting the strings in different relations with'the body comprising an adjustable thrust receiv ing rod disposed longitudinally of the body and parallel to the top thereof to receivea portion of the thrust from the neck in com-, bination with a tensioning rod extending upwardly toward the top of the instrument from the neck to the tailpiece end and adjustably secured to the neck. 1

2. In a stringed musical instrument having a body and a neck, means for adjusting the strings in different relations-with the body comprising a thrust receiving rod disposed longitudinally of the body and parallel to the top thereof to receive a portion of the thrust from the neck in combination with a tensioning rod extending upwardly toward the top of the instrument from the neck to the tailpiece end and adjustably secured to the neck, whereby the angular longitudinal relation of the body and neck may be adjusted and maintained. I

3. In a stringed musical instrument hav: ing a body and a neck, means for adjusting the strings in different relations with the body comprising means for adjusting the lon gitudinal relation of the neck and body. anda string holdingbridge provided with a flexible plate having astring supportingbead and means co-operat-ing with said bead and gridige for elevating or depressing thesaidea .7 V V v,

4. In a stringed musical instrument having a body and a neck, means'for adjusting the strings in different relations with the body comprising a string receiving and se-, curing bridge, a plate associated with said bridge provided with a string supporting. bead and adjustable strip means co-operating between the groove of said bead and said bridge whereby'by the selection of. the strip of desired form and widththe relations between the strings and the body of the instrument may be adjusted.

AUGUST LARSON. 

